Target Shooting

The Youth Profficiency Scheme (YPS) is our entry-level training for younger Scouts where we focus heavily on the safety requirements and basic principles of target shooting.  Over the course they move from shooting sitting down in order to master the finer points of trigger control and breathing, to full standing position.  The combination of position, stance, breathing, trigger, core strength and most importantly aim, make target shooting a challenging sport.  Added to this, our use of very simple break-barrel rifles in our training regimes before we move on to the more accurate compressed air powered rifles makes the achievements of our young athletes even more impressive.

Completion of the YPS course makes Scouts eligible to enter more competitions, and 3HH and have been busy on the usual circuit in Twickenham, Kingston and Richmond with some great successes.  Of note is that target shooting in general has recently seen increased funding at a UK national level, this filters down through the regional and county squads, then to the feeder organisations such as the Scouts where many of our British athletes first take up the sport – keep an eye out for Katie Gleeson and Jack and Dean Bale, all Commonwealth and Olympic hopefuls in the coming years – all of them ex-Scouts. However, the result of this funding and attention has been an increased take up and interest of the sport, all of which means tougher oppositions, but so far we have risen to the challenge.

The latest addition to the target shooting agenda is the ISSF sport Target Sprint. As described on the British Shooting website, Target Sprint is: “For those that like to get their heart rate up and combine the skill and focus of target shooting with a lung busting cardio workout.” It’s in the formation stages in the UK at present, but becoming increasingly popular, especially with younger people who have the energy to burn and often the fitness required to sufficiently control their heart rate and breathing after a fast run in order to accurately aim a rifle. Some of our Scouts and Explorers have actively pursued the opportunities available in this exciting sport.

In summary, we’re very pleased with the progress and engagement of the many Scouts in the Group that shoot, at any level, be it competitively or just for fun on our Saturday morning sessions held on the second weekend of each month.  Whilst it is fantastic to see the results, it remains that taking part is of primary importance.  As a competitive sport the results do mean a good deal, but as an activity it is one that requires true discipline, concentration, physical control, development of skills and a positive attitude; all the attributes of Scouting that we aspire to and that we see over and over in all the young people we work with.